Timeform Weekend Preview: Twiston-Davies is quietly confident

Weekend Preview / Timeform / 12 December 2008 / Leave a Comment

Timeform look ahead to a racing-packed weekend to find value from around the world.

With the jumps seasons in full swing the focus of the action is undoubtedly the Boylesports meeting at Cheltenham on Saturday. The card opens with a novice hurdle, in which Triumph Hurdle hopes Starluck, Balzaccio and Reve de Sivola are amongst the likely market leaders whilst the fourth race, a novices' chase, features impressive Newbury winner Buck The Legend and last season's Coral Cup winner Naiad du Misselot amongst a field of seven.

Imperial Commander was impressive when winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup at the course in November, and his trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies is quietly confident that he will be able to follow up in Saturday's showpiece race, the Boylesports.com Gold Cup, off a 13 lb higher mark.

Silverburn and Three Mirrors are two who reoppose the winner from the Paddy Power Gold Cup, though Ferdy Murphy will no doubt be hoping the rain stays away from Prestbury Park as he feels Three Mirrors is most effective on good ground. Irish interests are represented by Tom Taafe's Finger On The Pulse, whilst in-form trainer Nicky Henderson saddles My Petra, who was successful in a valuable Grade 2 chase at Ascot last time.

Henderson holds a strong hand in the following race, the Boylesports Hurdle, saddling Champion Hurdle favourite Binocular and the improving mare Chomba Womba, who took the scalp of Crack Away Jack in the Coral Ascot Hurdle on her latest outing. Reigning Champion Hurdler Katchit, Harchibald, the aforementioned Crack Away Jack and Triumph Hurdle winner Celestial Halo also form part of a strong field.

Elsewhere on the card, Punchestown's bids to further his World Hurdle claims in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle. He was impressive when barely coming off the bridle to land a handicap on the final day of the Paddy Power meeting here last month, the form of which has subsequently been boosted when the second, Ballydub, scored in a handicap at Newbury two weeks ago.

Over in Ireland on Sunday Noel Meade's Pandorama will face just two rivals as he bids to win his third successive start over hurdles in the Grade 1 Barry and Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle whilst later on the card Clopf and Aitmatov clash in the Grade 2 Giltspur Scientific Tara Hurdle. Last season's County Hurdle winner Jayo is also in action when he makes his third start over fences in the maiden chase.

At Navan, Dessie's Hughes' Schindlers Hunt meets the likes of Tumbling Dice, Conna Castle, Pomme Tiepy, Newmill, Scotsirish and Cailin Alainn in the Grade 2 O'Connell Logistics Hilly Way Chase.

On the Flat there's action from Sha Tin, where the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase sees Doctor Dino take on Luca Cumani's Purple Moon, Mores Wells and Andrew Balding's Buccellati. The Hong Kong Sprint and the Hong Kong Mile also make up the card, with British raider Major Cadeaux amongst the contenders for the latter. The highlight of the night is the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup, with Eagle Mountain and Lush Lashes bidding to win the first prize of £734,536.